Mohalenyane Phakela
THE recently crowned Miss Culture 2018, Reatile Molefe, has urged women to embrace their heritage and maintain their identity when they are among other nationalities.
The Lower Thamae bred stunner, on Saturday walked away with the Miss Culture 2018 sash and tiara at the expense of nine other contestants from nine different districts.
Limpho Nkhooa and Zanele Khoza were crowned the first and second princess respectively.
The pageant which was held in Hlotse Camp in the Leribe district is held in conjunction with the annual National Arts, Innovation and Culture Week celebrations.
Molefe told the Weekender this week that she was worried about the adoption of the western cultures at the expense of the country’s heritage by Basotho women.
“Culture is all about being proud of the history and heritage that made a person she is and that is the identity which should separate us women from the rest of the world,” Molefe said.
“We are now living in a modern world which has seen our ladies embrace the western culture over our heritage. Through this status I wish to teach and inspire other women to be proud of who they are and work towards being heritage ambassadors.”
Molefe is a Form D student at Lesotho High School. At 16, she already has experience in the modelling industry as she joined in 2009. Her previous participation in a pageant was in May this year at the Miss Global Lesotho where she was crowned the first princess.
Drawing inspiration from the multi pageantry winner, Mojabeng Senekal, Molefe said her dream is to be in the Miss World pageant.
“I have always had that love for heritage and to compete in a more advanced pageant hence I entered the Miss Culture contest, which is what I believe helped me to win. I also believe that the vast experience that I have gained over eight years gave me a competitive advantage over others.
“I am greatly inspired by the trend Ausi Mojabeng set in the modelling industry and my goal is to see myself as a woman who inspires others to be women of substance. My dream is to compete on the Miss World stage and hopefully make Lesotho proud by winning the title,” Molefe said.
